People

People

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W
Dr. John D. Abbitt Instructional Associate Professor
(352) 392-7557

Education
Ph.D, 1991, University of Virginia,
Professional Memberships and Fellowships
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Member
American Society of Engineering Education, Member
American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Member

Dr. Katerina E. Aifantis Associate Professor and MAE Faculty Fellow
(352) 392-6227

After obtaining my Bachelor’s in Engineering in 2002 with a minor in Mathematics, at the age of 19, I received a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship with which I obtained my Master’s from the University of Cambridge in 2004 and my PhD at the University of Groningen in 2005 at the age of 21, becoming the youngest PhD in The Netherlands.…

Sharla Alexander HR Generalist II
(352) 294-6960

Education
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Responsibilities
Human Resources team lead for Chemical Engineering and Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
Awards

  • 2019 Years of Service at UF – 10
Dr. Jessica Allen Assistant Professor
352-294-0435

Dr. Allen’s research focuses on identifying biomechanical targets that can guide interventional decisions in rehabilitation and device design for individuals with ambulatory impairments. This work leverages musculoskeletal modeling and machine learning techniques to identify deficits in lower-extremity biomechanics and to predict how different interventions or devices will improve ambulatory function. Dr. Allen and collaborators have recently identified several potential biomechanical targets for reducing fall risk and improving mobility in older adults and stroke survivors that her group is following up in NSF and NIH funded projects.…

Dr. Thomas E. Angelini Professor
(352) 392-6438

Professor Angelini received his Ph.D. in 2005 from the University of Illinois. His research interests include collective cell motion, mechanical instabilities in tissue cell assemblies, bacterial biofilm physics, soft matter physics, biomolecular self-assembly, and tribology of soft matter interfaces.
Education
Ph.D., 2005, University of Illinois
Professional Memberships and Fellowships
American Physical Society, Member
Society of Tribologist and Lubrication Engineers, Member
Teaching Interests
Soft Biological Mechanics, Soft Tissue Mechanics, Data Measurement and Analysis, Vibrations.…

Dr. Nagaraj K. Arakere Professor
(352) 273-2849

Professor Arakere received his Ph.D. in 1988 from Arizona State University. His research interests include Damage mechanics of structural materials subjected to monotonic and fatigue loading, Fatigue life evaluation, Rolling contact fatigue, Spall propagation, Superalloys, Foams, Related constitutive and finite element model development, and Dynamics of rotor-bearing systems.
Education
Ph.D, 1988, Arizona State University
Professional Memberships and Fellowships
American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Fellow 2005
Society of Automotive Engineers, Member
Society of Tribologist and Lubrication Engineers, Member
Teaching Interests
Failure of materials in design, Fatigue, Fracture mechanics, Contact mechanics, Vibrations, Rotor dynamics
Research Interests
Fatigue, fracture, microstructure-sensitive design, monotonic and cyclic deformation response, Ultra-high strength bearing steels, Single crystal nickel-base superalloys, contact mechanics, fatigue spall propagation, and related constitutive and finite element model development.…

Dr. Amie Baisley MAE Affiliate Faculty / Instructional Assistant Professor in Engineering Education
Dr. S. “Bala” Balachandar Newton C. Ebaugh Professor, Distinguished Professor
(352) 392-8909

Education
PhD, 1988, Brown University,
Professional Memberships and Fellowships
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Member
American Physical Society, Fellow 2006
American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Fellow 2008
American Society of Thermal and Fluids Engineers, Member
Teaching Interests
Computational fluid science (aka CFD), Large scale simulation of complex flows, transition and turbulence, multiphase flows, environmental flows

Dr. Scott Banks Courtesy Professor
(352) 392-6109

Professor Banks has been active in orthopaedic and joint mechanics research his entire career. He is a member of several professional societies including ASME, the Knee Society, the American Society for Biomechanics and the Orthopaedic Research Society. Professor Banks served as President and annual conference host for the International Society for Technology in Arthroplasty in 2013, and remains a member of the Board of Directors.…

Dr. Simon Barke Research Assistant Scientist
3523923159

Simon Barke was born in Germany where he studied physics. For a while, he lived in Moshi, Tanzania, and worked at different local schools and universities. Over the last decade, he has had the privilege to be involved in a number of exciting projects. He was a scientific monitor at the LIGO gravitational wave detector in Livingston, Louisiana.…

Tara Battle External Advisory Board Member

Ms. Shitarria Battle is the Chief Engineer for the Command and Control, Battle Management and Communications (C2BMC) Systems Development branch within the Missile Defense Agency. Ms. Battle provides technical direction to over 250 military, government civilians and contractors dispersed in the United States while managing requirements, ensuring test quality, and overseeing integration across the entire program.…

Spencer Berry Research Administrator I
352-294-1187

Spencer is originally from Pennsylvania but has called Florida home since 2016. He comes to the University of Florida with over ten years of experience in the finance industry. Spencer received his bachelor’s degree from Penn State University in 2011 in Advertising/Public Relations. His professional background specializes in business development, optimization, and leadership. In his free time, he has a passion for both listening to and playing music.…

Riccardo Bevilacqua Courtesy Professor

Professor Bevilacqua holds a M. Sc. in Aerospace Engineering (2002), and a Ph. D. in Applied Mathematics (2007), both from the University of Rome, “Sapienza”, Italy.
Education
Ph.D., 2007, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
Teaching Interests
Dynamics, Control, Spacecraft Mechanics.
Research Interests
His research interests focus on spacecraft formation flight, space robotics, small spacecraft, and spacecraft-atmosphere interaction.

Tina Bolton Fiscal Assistant I
(352) 294-1189

Awards

  • 2021 Years of Service at UF – 15
David D. Boree External Advisory Board Member

David Boree is a mechanical consultant holding more than three decades worth of experience in engineering and construction. David began his mechanical contractor career as a summer laborer working for W.W. Gay Mechanical Contractor, Inc, serving in various capacities before becoming the company’s President in 1997 and CEO in 2018. David recently retired in December 2020 after 38 years of service.…

David Bourget End User Computing Specialist III
(352) 392-5765

Responsibilities

  • Staff, Faculty, Lab support
  • Endpoint management
  • CM
  • JAMF
  • AD
  • IPAM
  • Liaison with Networking, Telephony, UFIT
Dr. Jonathan T. Brooks Instructional Assistant Professor
(352) 294-0472

Education
B.S., 2012, University of Florida,M.S., 2013, University of Florida,Ph.D., 2017, University of Florida
Professional Memberships and Fellowships
American Society of Engineering Education, Member
Teaching Interests
Numerical methods, control systems, and optimization.

Dr. Cristian Cardenas-Lailhacar Engineer
(352) 392-5425

Additional Roles
Assistant Director of the Industrial Assessment Center, and Assistant Director of the Mobile Energy Laboratory at the University of Florida. He is also an Affiliate Faculty at the Center for Latin American Studies
Education
BS, University of Chile, 1989
Ph.D. University of Florida, 1998
Professional Memberships and Fellowships
Association of Energy Engineers, Member
Research Interests
Industrial energy management and productivity, energy efficiency and optimization, energy policy, new energy sources and materials, chemical reactivity and structure optimization at molecular level.…

Dr. Bruce F. Carroll Associate Professor
(352) 392-4943

Education
Ph.D., 1988, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign,
Professional Memberships and Fellowships
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Member
American Society of Engineering Education, Member
American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Member
Research Interests

My current research interests center on engineering education with emphasis on peer mentoring and advising processes, incorporation of AI augmented recommender systems in academic and career mentoring, and factors affecting matriculation of students from undergraduate to graduate study.…

Eunice Carter Academic Advisor II (Undergraduate)
352-392-0963
Dr. Oana Cazacu Courtesy Professor
(850) 833-9350

Education
H.D.R.(Habilitation a Diriger les Recherches), 2004, University of Lille, France D.S., 1995, University of Lille, France,
Professional Memberships and Fellowships
American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Member
Research Interests
Damage, Metal Plasticity and Viscoplasticity, Rock and Soil Mechanics, Mechanics of Particulate Materials, Penetration Mechanics

Dr. Youping Chen Professor
(352) 392-8494

Dr. Chen received her Ph.D from the Georgia Washington University in 2003 and jointed University of Florida in 2006. She was a recipient of DARPA Young Faculty Award in 2010 for “Predicting materials properties from their microstructural architecture”, DOE Early Career Award in 2011 for “Prediction of thermal transport properties of materials with microstructural complexity”, and nine US National Science Foundation Awards for multiscale studies of mechanics of advanced materials and thermal transport in heterostructures from 2009 to 2023.…

Henry Chu Assistant Professor

RESEARCH SUMMARY

The theme of our research is heterogeneous soft matter transport and design, covering topics such as complex fluid dynamics, colloid and interface science, electrokinetics, and rheology. Our research develops predictive multi-scale computational tools (e.g. particle/fluid dynamics simulations) and fundamental theory (e.g. asymptotic/scaling analyses) to address emerging NAE Grand Challenges for Engineering in these research areas, emphasizing on close collaboration with experimental groups to translate knowledge into applications. …

Dr. Jacob N. Chung Andrew H. Hines, Jr./Florida Progress Corporation Eminent Scholar
(352) 392-9607

Dr. Chung is currently the Andrew H. Hines, Jr./Progress Energy Eminent Scholar Chair Professor at the University of Florida. He joined the University of Florida in 1998 after 19 years on the faculty at the Washington State University. Dr. Chung holds both B.S. and M.S. degrees in Nuclear Engineering and had spent 6 years working as a nuclear reactor safety engineer in the industry before receiving his Ph.D.…

Mary Church Director of Development
(352) 294-7988

Mary Church is the Director of Development for the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering at the University of Florida, where she fundraises for the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. She comes to the University of Florida with non-profit experience having worked at the American Cancer Society where she was instrumental in making the largest nationwide gain in the Good to Great pilot for Making Strides events.…

Sonya Clements Office Assistant
(352) 392-7591
  • Property Inventory Updates
  • UF Facilities Work-order Requests
  • Dosimetry Badge Coordinator
  • Fed Ex Requests
  • Door Code for Labs
  • Room Reservation

Awards

  • 2021 Years of Service at UF – 30
Dr. John W. Conklin Don D. and Ruth S. Eckis Associate Professor
(352) 392-0614

John Conklin is an Associate Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Florida. He joined the UF faculty in 2012 after a three-year research associateship at the W.W. Hansen Experimental Physics Laboratory at Stanford. He received his BS and MEng degrees from Cornell and PhD from Stanford in 2009. In 2011, John was the Fulbright Junior Lecturer at the University of Trento in Italy.…

Dr. Kerry Costello Assistant Professor
352-392-0800

Dr. Costello’s research focuses on understanding the role of movement biomechanics and physical activity in musculoskeletal health, with an emphasis on knee osteoarthritis. This work utilizes motion capture, wearable sensors and machine learning to examine how time-varying, multidimensional joint loads experienced during human movement contribute to disease progression.

Dr. Costello joins us from a NIH F32 & T32 funded postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Physical Therapy & Athletic Training at Boston University and the Section of Rheumatology at the Boston University School of Medicine.…

Meghan Cowper Academic Advisor II (Undergraduate)
(352) 392-3104
Dr. Carl D. Crane, III Professor
(352) 392-9461

Carl D. Crane is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and Director of the Center for Intelligent Machines and Robotics (CIMAR) at the University of Florida.  He received his B.S. and M.E. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1978 and 1979.  Following this he spent five years as an officer in the Army Corps of Engineers.…

Dr. Nicolae D. Cristescu Graduate Research Professor Emeritus, (Department Time: September 7, 1992 – May 16, 2009)

Professor Cristescu received his Ph.D. in 1955 from the Romanian Academy. His research interests include theory of plasticity, wave propagation, mechanics of continuous media, rock and soil mechanics, and the mechanics of particulate media.EducationPh.D., 1955, Romanian Academy,Research InterestsTheory of plasticity, wave propagation, mechanics of continuous media, rock and soil mechanics, mechanics of particulate media.

Benjamin Crosbie Student Assistant – Facilities and Marketing and Communications

Ben Crosbie is a student assistant for the MAE marcom and facilities teams. A third-year journalism major, he conducts interviews and writes stories about research breakthroughs, faculty highlights, student groups, alumni achievements, and more for the department’s website. On the facilities side, he can be found moving furniture, delivering mail, putting codes in door keypads, and trying in vain to parallel park a Ford F-150.…

Linda Curwick Administrative Support Assistant I
(352) 392-4617

Responsibilities

• Greets, directs, and assists Visitors in administrative office.
• Arranges travel, Lodging and transportation.
• Facilitate meetings/ in-person and virtual.
• assist in arranging or supporting events.
• processes reimbursements
• Prepares documents, correspondence, spreadsheets.
• Orders office supply inventory
• Facilitates faculty Calendars.
• Preparing and proofing documents

Steven Davis Maintenance Generalist I
352-294-1180
Melanie DeProspero Administrative Specialist II
(352) 294-1191

Responsibilities

  • Administration Operations
  • Tenure and Promotion
  • Departmental Events
  • Faculty Onboarding
  • Departmental Security Administrator
  • Facilities Operations
  • Property Custodian
  • Space Allocation
  • Facility Management

Awards

  • 2022 UF Division Three Superior Accomplishment Award
  • 2021 Years of Service at UF – 15
  • 2019 MAE Jan Rockey Outstanding Staff Award
Benjamin Dickinson Adjunct Instructional Assistant Professor
Dr. Dan Dickrell Instructional Associate Professor
(352) 392-1196

Education
Ph.D., 2006, University of Florida
Professional Memberships and Fellowships
The American Society for Mechanical Engineers, Member
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Member
Teaching Interests
Engineering Mechanics (statics, dynamics, mechanics of materials)
Engineering Design
Computer Programming for Engineers (LabVIEW and Matlab)
Research Interests
Computational image analysis
Electrical contact mechanics
Tribology
Engineering education methods for very-large enrollment courses

Dr. Warren Dixon Dean’s Leadership Professor and Department Chair
(352) 846-1463

Prof. Warren Dixon received his Ph.D. in 2000 from Clemson University. He worked as a research staff member and Eugene P. Wigner Fellow at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) until 2004, when he joined the University of Florida in the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department, where he is now an Ebaugh Professor and Department Chair. His main research interest has been the development and application of Lyapunov-based control techniques for uncertain nonlinear systems.…

Harold Doddington Engineer, (Department Time: 1974 –1998)
Dr. Ting Dong Instructional Assistant Professor
(352) 392-0961

Education
Ph.D., 2020, University of Florida
Research Interests
Prognostics and health management, maintenance of aircraft structure
Teaching Interests

  • Capstone Senior Design classes: Mechanical Engineering Design III, Aerospace Design I (Spacecraft Design), and Aerospace Design II (Aircraft Design).
  • Solid Mechanics classes: Finite Element Analysis and Design, Mechanics of Materials, Aerospace Structures, and Mechanical Engineering Design I.
Dr. Eric Du MAE Affiliate Faculty / Associate Professor in Civil and Coastal Engineering
(352) 294-6619

Dr. Eric Jing Du is an associate professor in the Department of Civil Engineering, and MAE’s affiliate and graduate faculty. Before joining University of Florida in January 2019, he was a faculty member at Texas A&M University, and a senior production analyst at Zachry Industrial in San Antonio, TX. His primary area of research is human-robot collaboration for complex industrial operations.…

Dr. Alison C. Dunn Robert and Jill Peterson Associate Professor
(352) 392-0039

Education

  • PhD Mechanical Engineering, University of Florida 2013
  • MS Mechanical Engineering, University of Florida 2006
  • BS Mechanical Engineering, University of Florida 2004
Ed Duran External Advisory Board Member

Ed Duran has over 40 years of professional experience in mechanical & aerospace engineering design, manufacturing, and product support. In 37 years at GE Aviation in Cincinnati, beginning as an Edison Engineer after graduation from UF, he led teams that design and support engines, nacelles, and the overhaul business for GE and its customers. In his last role, he was the Senior Executive responsible for technical support of GE’s commercial engine fleets, focused on reliability and customer cost of ownership for over 25,000 engines in service in the worldwide fleet.…

Martin A. Eisenberg Professor Emeritus (Department Time: 1966 – 1991)
(352) 392-0961

EducationD.Eng., 1966, Yale UniversityResearch InterestsMechanics of solids, theory of plasticity, inelastic wave propagation, computer methods of structural analysis.

Andrew Evans Warehouse/Stores Specialist
(352) 294-3390

Andrew is a US Army veteran and a lifelong Gator fan who joined the UF/MAE staff in January 2019. He is a sports enthusiast, former baseball player, and current gymnastics Dad. When he isn’t in the office, you can find him at home testing new recipes and smoking meats, or traveling with his wife and two daughters.…

Dr. James Fairbanks MAE Affiliate Faculty / Assistant Professor in Computer & Information Science & Engineering

James Fairbanks, Ph.D., earned his B.S. in Mathematics at the University of Florida and his Ph.D at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Computational Science and Engineering. He studied under the supervision of Professor David A. Bader, while supported by the National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship.

He then worked at the Georgia Tech Research Institute on Data Analysis and High Performance Computing as applied to scientific computing and data science problems in healthcare.…

Dr. Z. Hugh Fan MAE Excellence Term Professor
(352) 846-3021

Professor Fan joined UF in 2003.  His research focus is to develop microfluidics and BioMEMS technologies and apply them to biomedical applications.  Microfluidics involves device fabrication and manufacturing, study of fluid behavior in microscale, and exploiting the devices for a variety of applications including point-of-care testing, environmental monitoring, and detection of pathogens in the field.
Education
Ph.…

Dr. Richard L. Fearn Professor Emeritus (Department Time: 1965 – 1999)

Education
Ph.D., 1965, University of Florida
Research Interests
Aerodynamics and Mathematica

Laura Feder Fiscal Assistant II
352-392-8157
Gerald J. Feller External Advisory Board Member

Gerald (Jerry) Feller is a Principal Key Expert at Siemens Energy focusing on energy conversion technologies. Jerry has been at Siemens Energy for 24 years and been active in the R/D and Innovation community for that entire duration. Prior to joining Siemens-Energy in 1999, Jerry’s work experience includes research at Pratt & Whitney on advanced upper-stage rocket engines and analysis at Southern Nuclear (Part of Southern Company) regarding core physics of operating nuclear power plants.…

Carlos Fernandez External Advisory Board Member

Carlos Fernandez serves as a Technology Development Supervisor at the ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company in Houston, Texas. He started his career with ExxonMobil in 2005 after completion of his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the Mechanical and Aerospace Department at the University of Florida. His initial roles had him supporting well completions and wellwork operations in Texas and California.…

Dr. Norman G. Fitz-coy Associate Professor
(352) 392-1029

Education
Ph.D., 1990, Auburn University
Professional Memberships and Fellowships
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Member
Research Interests
Dynamics and control of multibody systems, game theory, orbital dynamics, flight mechanics.

James Fletcher Adjunct Research Professor, University of North Florida
(904) 620-1844
Dr. Camila Francolin External Advisory Board Member

Dr. Camila Françolin is the Division Leader for the Autonomy, Guidance, Navigation, and Control (AGN&C) Division at Draper Laboratory. Under her leadership, the AGN&C Division develops algorithms and software for a variety of applications: from autonomous underwater vehicles for the US Navy to the next generation of human lunar landers for NASA. Prior to her current role, Dr.…

Dr. Jie Fu MAE Affiliate Faculty / Assistant Professor in Electrical & Computer Engineering
352-392-2642

Dr. Jie Fu received the M.Sc. degree in Electrical Engineering and Automaton from Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China, in 2009, and the Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA, in 2013. From 2013 to 2015, she was a Postdoctoral Scholar with the University of Pennsylvania. From 2016-2021, she was an Assistant Professor with the Department of Robotics Engineering, Worcester, MA.…

Dr. Roger A. Gater Associate Professor Emeritus (Department Time: 1975 – 2002)

EducationPh.D., 1969, Ph.D.Purdue UniversityResearch InterestsThermodynamics, Fluid mechanics, Heat transfer, Combustion phenomena.

Michael Generale Adjunct Instructional Assistant Professor
(352) 294-1183
Pamela Gonzales Academic Program Spec I
352-846-1477

Pamela Gonzales is an Academic Advisor with the Graduate Student Services team within the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department. Prior to joining UF she was an educator in the local public schools for over a decade. Pamela is a Gator alum, earning her bachelor’s degree in business and master’s and education specialist degrees in school counseling and guidance.…

Pynie Gonzales Business Administration Specialist III
352-294-7967
Max Greene Adjunct Instructional Assistant Professor
Dr. Hitomi Yamaguchi Greenslet Professor and Graduate Coordinator
(352) 392-0812

Professor Greenslet received her Ph.D. in 1996 from Utsunomiya University in Japan. Her research interests include Magnetic field-assisted finishing; Surface functionalization and characterization; Ultra-precision surface finishing of optics; Surface and edge finishing of capillary tubes, catheter shafts and stents; and Medical device development.
Education
Ph.D., 1996, Utsunomiya University, Japan
Professional Memberships and Fellowships
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Fellow 2015
Society of Manufacturing Engineers, Fellow 2016
American Heart Association, Member
International Academy for Production Engineering, Member
International Society for Optics and Photonics, Member
Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers, Member
Teaching Interests
Manufacturing engineering, Fundamentals of production engineering, Nontraditional manufacturing engineering.…

Dr. Mike Griffis Senior Lecturer and Undergraduate Coordinator
(352) 392-9473

After 20 years in the robotics industry, Mike came back to UF to teach the design courses.
Education
1991 Ph.D. University of Florida
1988 MSME University of Florida
1985 BSME University of Florida
Professional Memberships and Fellowships
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Member
Teaching Interests
Design, Kinematics, Statics, Numerical Methods
Research Interests
Kinematics, Statics, Screw Theory

The file is not an image. Brittney Guerrier Academic Program Specialist I
352-392-0808
Dr. Dan Guralnik Research Assistant Scientist
(352) 294-1191

Dan Guralnik received his Ph.D. from the Technion-IIT Mathematics department in 2005, specializing in Geometric Group Theory. After post-doctoral appointments at Vanderbilt University and University of Oklahoma, where he worked on asymptotic geometry and boundary dynamics of discrete groups, he moved in 2011 to a post-doctoral appointment at KodLab, the legged locomotion laboratory at the University of Pennsylvania, to start work on applications of topology and category theory to problems of knowledge representation in the context of navigation and control.…

The file is not an image. Christine Hadad Research Administrator II
Dr. Raphael T. Haftka Distinguished Professor Emeritus, (Department Time: December 30, 1994 – May 16, 2019)

Education
Ph.D., 1971, University of California
Research Interests
Aerospace design under uncertainty, modeling the effects of tests on structural design and safety, verification and validation of scientific simulations.

Dr. Matthew T. Hale Courtesy Associate Professor
(352) 294-0436

Matthew Hale received his BSE summa cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania and received his MS and PhD from Georgia Tech. His work is driven by designing and analyzing multi-agent coordination algorithms that function well under challenging conditions, such as asynchronous information sharing, noisy communications, and user privacy requirements. His work deploys these algorithms on teams of flying and ground robots, providing both validation of the underlying theory and further research directions.…

Jeremy Hall Graduate Program Manager
(352) 294-1184

Jeremy is originally from Pensacola, Florida, but has called Gainesville home for more than fifteen years. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Management from Santa Fe College in 2015 and his Master’s degree in Higher Education from the University of Florida in 2017. Jeremy worked in higher education for almost five years prior to joining the University of Florida in 2017; his professional specializations include admissions, advising, educational technology, and many other areas.…

Joel B Harley ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR KENT AND LINDA FUCHS FACULTY FELLOW
352-392-2692

PRIMARY RESEARCH AREA
Signals and Systems
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Signal Processing, Data Science, Acoustics, Nondestructive Evaluation, Structural Health Monitoring, Speech Processing
ABOUT
HOMEPAGE
PUBLICATIONS
HONORS AND AWARDS:

  • Invited Paper Published in Proceedings of the IEEE, 2015
  • Univ. of Utah Electrical and Computer Engineering Teaching Award, 2016

EDUCATION

  • Ph.D.
Emily Hinds Marketing and Communications Specialist
352-392-0829
Megan Holland Fiscal Assistant II
(352) 294-1186
Dr. Ryan W. Houim Associate Professor
(352) 392-7164

Ryan Houim received his BSME from North Dakota State University and his MS and Ph.D. degrees from the Pennsylvania State University.  He was a National Research Council post-doctoral fellow at the Naval Research Laboratory and a Research Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland prior to joining the University of Florida.  His research is focused on understanding the dynamics of multiphase and chemically reactive flows using numerical simulation techniques.  …

Dr. Chen-chi Hsu Professor Emeritus (Department Time: 1978 – 2006)

EducationPh.D., 1965, University of MichiganResearch InterestsComputational fluid dynamics, engineering mechanics, applied mathematics.

Dr. Yong Huang Professor
(352) 392-5520

Dr. Yong Huang is a professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, and Materials Science and Engineering. His research interests are two-fold: 1) processing of biological and engineering materials for healthcare/energy applications, and 2) understanding of dynamic material behavior during manufacturing and process-induced damage or defect structures. He served as the Technical Program Chair for the 2010 American Society of Mechanical Engineers International Manufacturing Science and Engineering Conference (ASME MSEC 2010) and the 2012 International Symposium on Flexible Automation (ISFA 2012).…

Dr. Peter G. Ifju MAE Excellence Term Professor
(352) 392-6744

Education
Ph.D., 1992, Virginia Polytechnic Institute
Research Interests
Experimental mechanics, moire interferometry, compositie materials, micro air vehicles.
Professional Memberships and Fellowships
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Member
Society of Manufacturing Engineers, Member

Dr. Herbert A. Ingley, III Associate Professor Emeritus (Department Time: 1973 – 2015)
(352) 392-9929

Education
University of Florida, Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, 1971 (Minors in Environmental Engineering)

University of Florida, MSME, 1969 (Minors in Environmental Engineering)

University of Florida, BSChE, 1967
Research Interests
Heat transfer, Acoustics, Air conditioning, Utilization of solar energy.

Dr. Thomas L. Jackson Adjunct Research Assistant Scientist
(352) 273-1243

Dr. Thomas L. Jackson (Citizenship: USA). Dr. Thomas L. Jackson is a Research Scientist in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. Previously he was Technical Manager for the Center for Compressible Multiphase Turbulence at the University of Florida. He received his Ph.D. in Mathematics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1985, after which he joined the staff of the Institute for Computer Applications in Science and Engineering (ICASE).…

Valarie Jackson Academic Assistant II
(352) 392-0962
Dr. David A. Jenkins Associate Engineer Emeritus (Department Time: 2005 – 2011)
(352) 392-6105

Education
Ph.D., 1973, University of Florida
Research Interests
Materials, structures, design, experimental stress analysis, instrumentation, failure analysis.

Dr. Marcus Johnson External Advisory Board Member

Dr. Marcus Johnson serves as Project Manager in the Aviation Systems Division at the NASA Ames Research Center where he has conducted research on unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) since 2012. Marcus also serves as Adjunct Professor in the Aviation Department at Everglades University – Boca Raton Campus where he has been a member of the faculty since 2019.…

W. Joel D. Johnson Courtesy Faculty
(321) 727-4810
Marie Kane External Advisory Board Member

As the senior manager for Sandia’s Advanced and Exploratory (A&E) teams, Marie Kane provides leadership for her management team and strategy development and execution for the Advanced and Exploratory Systems Departments that support technology development and maturation for the Nuclear Deterrence (ND) mission. The A&E program at Sandia is responsible for developing next generation weapon architectures that support anticipated adversarial threats and defend against technology surprise.…

Dr. Nam-Ho Kim Professor
(352) 846-0665

Dr. Nam-Ho Kim is presently a Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Florida. He graduated with a Ph.D. in the Department of Mechanical Engineering from the University of Iowa in 1999 and worked at the Center for Computer-Aided Design as a postdoctoral associate until 2001. He is an Associate Fellow of American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and an Associate Editor of Journal of Mechanical Design and Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization.…

Dr. James Klausner Courtesy Faculty

Dr. James Klausner is an MSU Foundation Professor and Mechanical Engineering Department Chair at Michigan State University (2016-present). He formerly served as Chair of the ASME Heat Transfer Division (2011-2012). He serves on the board of directors for the American Society of Thermal Fluid Engineers and the International Titanium Association Foundation. For three and a half years he served as a Program Director at the U.S.…

Dr. Ashok V. Kumar Associate Professor
(352) 392-0816

Education
Ph.D., 1993, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Professional Memberships and Fellowships
American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Member
Research Interests
Multifunctional structures, Finite Element Method, Geometric Modeling, Design Optimization and Rapid Prototyping.

Dr. Ulrich H. Kurzweg Professor Emeritus (Department Time: 1968 – 2003)

Education
Ph.D., 1961, Princeton University
Research Interests
Fluid mechanics, magneto-hydrodynamics, applied mathematics, heat transfer by high frequency oscillations.

Dr. Samsun Lampotang MAE Affiliate Faculty / Professor in Anesthesiology
(352) 294-8148
Dr. William E. Lear, Jr Associate Professor Emeritus (Department Time: 1984 – 2023)
(352) 392-7572

Dr. William. E. Lear is an Associate Fellow of AIAA, recipient of the 2014 Energy Systems Award from AIAA, former Chair of the Terrestrial Energy Systems technical committee, and has served in multiple roles with the International Energy Conversion Engineering Conference, including Technical Program Chair. His areas of research are novel distributed generation systems, advanced turbomachinery, and low temperature fuel cells.…

Austin Leto IT Professional II
(352) 846-3019
Dr. Richard C. Lind Associate Professor
(352) 392-6745

Education
Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, 1995, University of Minnesota
Professional Memberships and Fellowships
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Member
Research Interests
aeroservoelasticity, morphing, controls, flight testing

Dr. Sung Y. Lu Professor Emeritus, (Department Time: July 1, 1959 – December 1, 1993)

EducationPh.D., 1959, Carnegie Institute of TechnologyResearch InterestsStress analysis, mechanics of structures.

Dr. Gary K. Matthew Associate Professor Emeritus (Department Time: 1980 – 2009)
(352) 392-0961

EducationPh.D., 1980, University of Florida,Research InterestsKinematics, Dynamics, Computer-aided design.

Stephanie McGrail Director of Administrative Services
Dr. Renwei Mei Professor
(352) 392-0888

Education
Ph.D., 1990, University of Illinois
Research Interests
Two-phase flow, turbulence, computational fluid mechanics.

Dr. Amor A. Menezes Assistant Professor
(352) 294-0470

Amor A. Menezes is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, an affiliate of the J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, an affiliate of the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, and a member of the Institute for Cell & Tissue Science and Engineering at the University of Florida. His group applies dynamical systems theory and control engineering methods in the fields of systems biology and synthetic biology.…

Dr. David W. Mikolaitis Associate Professor Emeritus (Department Time: 1982 – 2017)
(352) 392-7632

Education
Ph.D., 1981, University of Illinois
Research Interests
Fluid mechanics, combustion theory, applied mathematics.

Dr. Gary Miller Courtesy Professor, Exactech, Inc. and External Advisory Board Member
(352) 377-1140

Gary J. Miller is co-founder and Executive Vice President for Research and Development of Exactech, Inc., Gainesville, Florida. Exactech was incorporated in 1985 and develops, manufactures, and distributes orthopaedic implants and biologic materials for orthopaedic applications throughout the world. Gary received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1970 from the University of Florida, a Masters in Mechanical Engineering (emphasis in Biomechanics) from MIT in 1972 and a Ph.D.…

Dr. Steven A. E. Miller Associate Professor
(352) 392-0886

Prof. Steven A. E. Miller, Ph.D., conducts research in theoretical fluid dynamics, theoretical aeroacoustics, and related disciplines. He joined the University of Florida Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering in August of 2016. For seven years he was a United States government civil servant and was appointed to the position of theoretical aeroacoustician (research aerospace engineer) at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Langley Research Center, Aeroacoustics Branch.…

Dr. James E. Milton Engineer Emeritus (REEF) (Department Time: 1965 – 2006)
(850) 833-9350

EducationPh.D., 1966, University of Florida

Dr. Saeed Moghaddam William F. Powers Professor
(352) 392-0889

Education
Ph.D., 2006, University of Maryland
Research Interests
Micro/nanoscale transport and nanotechnology for energy science and health applications; nanoengineering of functionalized membranes for energy conversion and storage and filtration/separation applications; heat and mass transfer in micro/nanostructures; microfluidic reactor platforms for fundamental energy research and reaction engineering; portable power
Professional Memberships and Fellowships
American Association for the Advancement of Science, Member
American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Member
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Fellow 2020
Institute of Electrics and Electronics Engineers, Member

Dr. Kamran Mohseni Professor
(352) 273-1834

Professor Mohseni received his Ph.D. in 2000 from California Institute of Technology. After a year as a Postdoc in Control and Dynamical Systems at Caltech he joined the Aerospace Engineering Sciences department at the University of Colorado in Boulder as an Assistant Professor. Professor Mohseni joined the University of Florida as W. P. Bushnell Endowed Professor in MAE and ECE departments in 2011.…

Jennifer Munroe Associate Director, College and EBS-HR – Employee Relations
352-392-0904
Dr. Patrick Musgrave Assistant Professor
352-392-6230

Dr. Patrick Musgrave received his PhD from Virginia Tech in 2018 and BSc & BSE from the University of Pittsburgh in 2012. Dr. Musgrave’s research focuses on adaptive and morphing systems operating in fluidic environments, in particular systems subject to dynamic fluid-structure interactions. These systems are inherently multi-physical and sit at the intersection of structures, hydro/aerodynamics, mechatronics, smart materials, and controls.…

Rebecca Nestle Research Administrator I
Dr. Gale E. Nevill, Jr Professor Emeritus (Department Time: 1964 – 2003)
(352) 392-0961

EducationPh.D., 1961, Stanford UniversityResearch InterestsInternet based design, conflict resolution in design, expert systems for conceptual design.

Jennifer A Nichols ASSISTANT PROFESSOR & J. CRAYTON PRUITT FAMILY TERM FELLOW
(352) 294-8803

EDUCATION
B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Tufts University, 2008
M.S., Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, 2011
M.A., Medical Humanities & Bioethics, Northwestern University, 2014
Ph.D., Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, 2014
Postdoctoral Fellowship, Orthopaedics, University of Utah, 2017
RESEARCH INTERESTS

Dr. Nichols’ research broadly focuses on musculoskeletal biomechanics. The guiding vision of her lab is to create predictive simulations that cross disciplinary boundaries and improve the functional ability and quality of life for individuals with musculoskeletal disorders.…

Dr. Sean R. Niemi Instructional Assistant Professor
(352) 294-3381

Dr. Sean Niemi received his Ph.D in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Florida in 2018.
Education
Ph.D., 2018, University of Florida
Professional Memberships and Fellowships
American Society of Engineering Education, Member
Society of Automotive Engineers, Member
Teaching Interests
Engineering Design, Precision Engineering, Tribology, Metrology, Quality and Manufacturing Engineering

Greg Norton Systems Admin / Programmer II
(352) 846-1712

Responsibilities

  • MAE web server and database administration
  • Design, programming, and maintenance of myMAE
  • WordPress Multisite administration

Awards

  • 2022 MAE Innovation Staff Award
  • 2018 Years of Service at UF – 15
  • 2007 UF Division Three Superior Accomplishment Award
Calvin C. Oliver Professor Emeritus (Department Time: 1967 – 1994)
The file is not an image. Mason Ortiz Student Assistant – Facilities
Matthew A. Palmer External Advisory Board Member

Matt is a co-founder and the Chief Technology Officer of Syntheon; a medical device invention, design and development firm. He has thirty-four years of experience working in product development and R&D in the medical device industry. His primary focus has been the development of disposable, minimally invasive surgical and vascular devices. Matt has worked in large corporations such as Cordis and Boston Scientific and held positions from Advanced Research and Development Engineer to Director of Research and Development; guiding a large engineering group responsible for multiple projects.…

Dr. Jing Pan Assistant Professor
(352) 294-6869

Jing Pan received his PhD from Purdue University in 2017. His research focuses on developing nanoscale machineries for biotechnology applications. He conducted his postdoctoral research at Stanford University School of Medicine, where he demonstrated translational impact of his work in novel biosensors and molecular diagnostics.

Education
Postdoc, 2019 Stanford University
Ph.D, 2017 Purdue University
B.S, 2011 Xi’an Jiaotong University

Teaching Interests
Heat and Mass Transfer; Classical and Statistical Thermodynamics; Modern Optics and Imaging System Engineering; Biodesign

Research Interests
Macromolecular Machines; Directed Evolution; Self-assembly and self-organization; Bio-nanotechnology; Synthetic Biology; Medical Technology.

Dr. Emmanuel Partheniades Professor Emeritus, (Department Time: September 13, 1975 – May 6, 1999)

EducationPh.D., 1962, University of CaliforniaResearch InterestsTidal hydrodynamics, stratified flow, salinity intrusion, erosion and sedimentation dynamics of turbulent flows.

Dr. Umesh Persad Instructional Associate Professor
352-392-6743

Dr. Umesh Persad obtained his Ph.D. in Engineering Design from The University of Cambridge (Cambridge Engineering Design Centre), with a special focus on Inclusive and Healthcare Design. His areas of interest include Engineering Design and Product Development, Applied Artificial Intelligence, Educational Innovation and Technology, and Academic Strategy and Leadership. Dr. Persad previously held the position of Associate Professor and Head of Department of the Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing and Entrepreneurship (MME) Department at The University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT), West Indies.…

Dr. Alicia Petersen Assistant Professor
(352) 392-3496

Alicia Petersen is an Assistant Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) at the University of Florida. Through data analysis, instrumentation and modeling, Dr. Petersen researches the kinetic physics, magnetism and dynamics at play during the transit and interaction of space weather phenomena in the inner solar system, their impacts on spacecraft, and strategies for mitigating the impacts of space weather.…

Dr. Christopher “Chrispy” Petersen Assistant Professor
(352) 273-2004

Dr. Christopher “Chrispy” Petersen is an Assistant Professor in the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) Department at the University of Florida. His research interests lie in anything related to space guidance, navigation, control, and autonomy, with particular focus of making techniques real-time implementable and usable for operators. While all of space interests him, his research mostly is concerned with Rendezvous, Proximity Operations, and Docking (RPOD) and any satellite in the eXtra Geostationary (XGEO) regime (above geostationary orbit, to the Moon, and beyond).…

Dr. Jill E. Peterson Associate Professor Emeritus (Department Time: 1990 – 2008)
(352) 392-7164

EducationPh.D., 1991, Rice UniversityResearch InterestsConvective heat and mass transfer issues in semi-conductor processing and hydrogen leak detection. Laser based diagnostics.

Dr. Winfred M. Phillips Professor
(352) 392-6620

Education
D.Sc., 1968, University of Virginia

Professional Memberships and Fellowships
American Astronautical Society, Fellow 1993
American Association for the Advancement of Science, Fellow 1982
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Fellow 1999
American Institute for Medical and Biomedical Engineering, Fellow 1992
American Physical Society, Member
American Society of Engineering Education, Fellow 1987
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Fellow 1984
Biomedical Engineering Society, Fellow 2005
Society of Automotive Engineers, Member
Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Fellow 1993
American Society for Artificial Internal Organs, Member
Association of Technology Managers, Member
Licensing Executives Society Inc., Member
New York Academy of Sciences, Fellow 1995
Royal Society for Arts, Fellow 1987

Research Interests
Fluid mechanics, gas dynamics, biomedical engineering.

Crystal Porchiazzo Accounting Specialist
352-392-4365
Ronnie Potts Academic Advisor II (Undergraduate)
352-273-1288
Daniel M. Preston Facilities Operations Specialist
(352) 392-3101

Daniel is from Gainesville, Florida. He started as a UF staff member in 2004 working mainly in facilities, IT, experiment field support, and logistics as an Engineering Technician and Engineer. He joined MAE in 2019 as a Facilities Operations Specialist. 
Education
General Sciences and Engineering Associate of Arts, 2004 Santa Fe College 
Responsibilities

  • Coordinate repairs and renovations with Facilities Services and HWCoE Facilities 
  • Staff safety contact for MAE 
  • Safety and maintenance of MAE Student Design Center 
  • Departmental Emergency Planning 
  • Student Design Teams logistical support 
  • Inventory of attractive and capital assets 
  • Keypad and key card maintenance and programming 
  • Vehicle fleet maintenance 
  • Space auditing 
  • Backup for mail receiving and delivery 
  • Backup for equipment and space moves 

Awards

  • 2021 Division 3 Superior Accomplishment Award 
  • 2020 Years of Service at UF – 15 
  • 2018 Division 4 Superior Accomplishment Award 
  • 2011 Division 4 Superior Accomplishment Award 
Dr. Humberto Ramos Research Assistant Scientist
(850) 833-9350 ext 250

Humberto Ramos was born in Zacatecas, Mexico where he obtained his Bachelor’s in Mechatronics Engineering. From 2010 to 2012 he served as engineering director at a mining company where he led the development of electronic consoles for explosive detonation sequences. In 2012 he returned to academia as a professor of controls and mechatronic design. In 2020 he obtained his Ph.D.…

Dr. Anil V. Rao University Term Professor
(352) 392-5523

Professor Rao earned his Ph.D. in mechanical and aerospace engineering from Princeton University, his M.S.E. in aerospace engineering from the University of Michigan, and his B.S. in mechanical engineering and A.B. in mathematics from Cornell University.  Professor Rao’s research interests lie in the area of control and optimization of space and air vehicles and combine the development of new computational methods for optimal control with novel applications including space mission planning, performance optimization of atmospheric flight vehicles, and other vehicular control problems (for example, high performance ground and underwater vehicles). …

Dr. Sandip Ray MAE Affiliate Faculty / Professor in Electrical & Computer Engineering
352-392-1605

Primary Research Area
Computer Engineering
Research Interests
Trustworthy computing; Reconfigurable platforms; Automotives and IoT; Post-silicon validation; Formal Methods
Honors & Awards

  • Keynote Speaker DUHDe, Dresden, Germany, workshop part of Design, Automation, and Test in Europe, 2016
  • Best Paper Selection Committee Lead HOST, 2015
  • Research Recognition Award, Intel Strategic CAD Labs, for Research Pathfinding: Automated Analysis of Post-silicon Hardware Tracing, 2015

Education

  • PhD, Computer Science, University of Texas at Austin, 2005
  • ME, Computer Science and Automation, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India, 1998
  • BE, Computer Science and Engineering, Jadavpur University, Calcutta, India, 1996
Stephen Richmond External Advisory Board Member

Stephen Richmond is the Core Digital Program Director at SLB, where he is currently developing the strategy, portfolio, and commercialization of solutions that are differentiated by SLB’s leadership in domain expertise and technology. In his 19 years at SLB, he’s had a diverse experience – working boots on the ground on rigs, managing teams, implementing global management systems, developing unique initiatives, and growing various businesses.…

Prof. Shannon Ridgeway Instructional Assistant Professor
Vernon P. Roan (Department Time: September 1, 1966 – January 1, 2004)
Janice “Jan” Rockey Administrative Support, (Department Time: January 12, 1976 – October 1, 2019)
John “Row” Rogacki Program Director of REEF & Engineer, (Department Time: August 16, 2004 – October 19, 2010)
Dr. C. Allen Ross REEF Adjunct Professor, (Department Time: June 1, 1958 – February 1, 2005)

EducationPh.D., 1971, University of FloridaResearch InterestsAerospace structures and materials, composite materials, experimental stress analysis.

Dr. Subrata Roy Professor
(352) 392-9823

Professor Subrata Roy studies ionized gas physics and its various applications: (1) Atmospheric plasma actuators for flow mixing, propulsion, and turbulent flow control; (2) Hypersonic flows; (3) Space propulsion; and (4) Hydrodynamic models for micro and nanofluidics by incorporating Knudsen’s theory. Prof. Roy is a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI), a Distinguished Visiting Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, a Fellow of the ASME, and an Associated Fellow of the AIAA.…

Dr. Andres Rubiano Instructional Assistant Professor
352-273-2823

Andrés Rubiano (PhD, University of Florida; MSc, Universidad de los Andes) is an Instructional Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Florida. He currently teaches Mechanical Engineering Design 1 and 3 (Capstone Design). He has over 12 years of combined experience in teaching high school Physics and Calculus, GRE and GMAT prep courses (Quantitative Reasoning sections), and mechanical engineering undergraduate and graduate courses, including Advanced Heat Transfer, Combustion, Computer Aided Design, Mechanics of Materials, Fluid Mechanics, and Mech Design.…

Dr. Ivan Ruchkin MAE Affiliate Faculty / Assistant Professor in Electrical & Computer Engineering
352-273-2171

Homepage
Lab
HONORS AND AWARDS
Best Contributed Theoretical Paper for paper “Data Generation with PROSPECT: a Probability Specification Tool” at the Winter Simulation Conference. 12/2021
Frank Anger Memorial Award for crossover of ideas between the SIGSOFT (software engineering) and SIGBED (embedded systems) communities. 05/2017
Best Paper Award for paper “Challenges in Physical Modeling for Adaptation of Cyber- Physical Systems” at the Third IEEE World Forum on the Internet of Things.…

Dr. Maciej Rysz Courtesy Scholar
(850) 833-9350

EducationPh.D., 2014, University of IowaTeaching InterestsSystems Design and Architecture, Operations Research, OptimizationResearch InterestsStochastic and Combinatorial Optimization, Network Analytics, Machine Learning, Quantitative Risk Management

Julia Sander HR Generalist II
(352) 294-6962

Education
Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, University of Florida
Master of Business Administration, University of Florida
Responsibilities
Human Resources related to Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and Chemical Engineering
Awards

  • 2021 Years of Service at UF – 5
Dr. Bhavani V. Sankar Professor
(352) 392-6749

Professor Sankar received his Ph.D. in 1984 from Purdue University. His research interests lie in the field of mechanics of composite materials and structures, especially micro-mechanics and fracture mechanics.
Education
Ph.D., 1984, Purdue University
Professional Memberships and Fellowships
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Fellow 1996
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Fellow 1998
American Society for Composites, Fellow 2004
Society of Mechanical Engineers, Fellow 1998
Teaching Interests
Aerospace structures, Mechanics of composite materials and structures, Fracture mechanics, Finite element analysis.…

Dr. Malisa Sarntinoranont Professor and Associate Chair for Faculty Affairs
(352) 392-8404

Dr. Sarntinoranont grew up in Starke, Clermont and Gainesville, FL. Her degrees are in Mechanical Engineering with an emphasis in Bioengineering. Dr.S’s research is driven by a vision to develop engineering tools for patient-specific drug therapy. Her lab is developing image-based computational models that predict flows and transport within the brain, spinal cord, tumors and bioreactors.…

Milan Savic Manager, Administrative Services

For nearly 15 years, Milan has been employed at the University of Florida, contributing his expertise to various domains such as administration, academic advising, educational technology, and finance. Beyond his professional commitments, he exhibits a strong passion for soccer, with a particular interest in A.C. Milan and the Italian Serie A League.
Awards
2020 Superior Accomplishment Award
Education
2002 B.S.…

Dr. Shreya Saxena MAE Affiliate Faculty / Assistant Professor in Electrical & Computer Engineering
352-392-2651

Primary Research Area
Signals and Systems
Research Interests
Computational neuroscience, Sensorimotor control, Control theory, Data science, Machine learning
Honors & Awards

  • Rising Stars in Electrical Engineering, 2019
  • Rising Stars in Biomedical Engineering, 2018
  • Honoree of the Graduate Women of Excellence Award, MIT, 2017

Education

  • PhD, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • MS, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University
  • BS, Department of Mechanical Engineering, EPFL (Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne), Switzerland
Dr. Jonathan R. Scheffe Associate Professor
(352) 392-0839

Jonathan Scheffe is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Florida. Prof. Scheffe’s research is focused on the conversion and storage of solar energy in the form of renewable fuels/electricity through thermochemical routes. He is the former chair of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Solar Energy Division and has co-authored more than 35 peer received publications in the field of solar thermal energy conversion.…

Dr. John K. Schueller Professor
(352) 392-0822

Prof. John K. Schueller received his Ph.D. from Purdue University in 1983. He is a generalist with some concentration in manufacturing and in off-highway vehicles and equipment. He is a Fellow of ASABE, IAABE, and SAE and holds Founder, Life, and/or Senior Member status in ASME, EurAgEng, IEEE, ISAE, and SME. Prof. Schueller is the Chair Editor-in-Chief of Computers and Electronics in Agriculture and serves on the Management Committee of the Club of Bologna.…

Dr. Kurt Schulze Adjunct Instructional Assistant Professor
(352) 392-9929

EducationPh.D., 2014, University of FloridaTeaching InterestsHVAC Systems, Energy Management

Dr. Thomas Schwarze Research Assistant Scientist
(352) 294-7089

Thomas Schwarze received his Master’s degree in physics in 2013 from the Leibniz University Hannover. In the same year, he worked as an FPGA engineer in Denmark and as a research visitor at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.

He then conducted his Ph.D. research at the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute) in collaboration with the Leibniz University Hannover, focusing on the development of a laser-optical metrology system to characterize technology for the space-borne Gravitational Wave Observatory LISA (Laser Interferometer Space Antenna), and receiving his Ph.D.…

Louise Scott External Advisory Board Member

Louise Scott leads efforts to deliver world-class value to 4.2 million customers in four states served by utilities of Southern Company Gas. In this role, she has responsibility for customer care center operations, billing, payment, credit collections and remittance and supporting customer initiatives. Scott brings more than 30 years of experience to this role. Most recently, Scott served as the vice president of customer services for Southern Company’s Georgia Power subsidiary, where she was responsible for the company’s customer care center in Henry County, smart meters and eBusiness activities that supported 2.5 million customers.…

Dr. Corin Segal Professor
(352) 392-6132

Education
Ph.D., 1991, University of Virginia
Professional Memberships and Fellowships
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Member
Combustion Institute, Member
Research Interests
Combustion, fluid diagnostics, Fluid mechanics, aircraft design.

Chris Sells HR Assistant
(352) 294-7939

Awards

  • 2021 Years of Service at UF – 10

REsponsibilities

  • Human Resources related to Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and Chemical Engineering

 

Dr. Pasquale M. Sforza Professor Emeritus (Department Time: 1998 – 2010)
(352) 392-0512

EducationPh.D., 1965, Polytechnic Institute of BrooklynResearch InterestsGas dynamics, propulsion, air and space vehicle design, turbulent flows, high energy laser interactions, heat transfer, vortex flows.

Dr. Mark Sheplak Professor
(352) 392-3983

Mark Sheplak is currently a Professor holding joint appointments in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Florida. Prior to joining UF in 1998, he was a postdoctoral associate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Microsystems Technology Laboratories, Cambridge, MA from 1995-1998.…

Dr. S.A. Sherif MAE Excellence Term Professor
(352) 392-7821

Education
Ph.D., 1985, Iowa State University
Professional Memberships and Fellowships
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Fellow 2002
American Society of Engineering Education, Member
American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Fellow 2002
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Fellow 2000
Royal Aeronautical Society, Fellow 2017
American Society of Thermal and Fluids Engineers, Member
International Association for Hydrogen Energy, Member
International Institute of Refrigeration, Member
International Solar Energy Society, Member
Research Interests
Heat and Mass Transfer, Thermodynamics, Thermal System Design and Optimization, Refrigeration and Cryogenics, HVAC, Solar and Hydrogen Energy
Links

Dr. Jingjing Shi Assistant Professor
(352) 294-1193

Dr. Jingjing Shi’s research focuses on understanding energy transport and conversion to solve thermal challenges in different systems, with an emphasis on wide and ultra-wide bandgap semiconductor devices for future power and radio-frequency applications. Her work utilizes multiscale modeling and experimental methods to understand effects of different mechanisms like atomistic structures and defects on energy transport in materials and at interfaces.…

Dr. Jane Jaejeong Shin Assistant Professor
352-392-3140

Jane Shin is an assistant professor in the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department at the University of Florida. She received the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Cornell University and the B.S. degree in Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering from Seoul National University.
During her PhD, she closely collaborated with the Naval Surface Warfare Center at Panama City (NSWC PCD) on developing novel information-driven sensor path planning algorithms for underwater multi-target classification using side-scan sonar sensors.…

Tom Singer External Advisory Board Member

Tom Singer graduated with a B.S. from the newly merged Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering in 2002, with an aerospace structures focus. Tom went on to work in the Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization and Advanced Composites labs while pursuing a master’s degree, but after accepting a job offer at United Space Alliance, he failed to complete his thesis, just as he was warned.…

Harold Snider Adjunct Associate Professor, (Department Time: August 23, 1988 – May 29, 2009)

Education
MSME, 1948, Ohio State University; Columbus, Ohio
Research Interests
MSME, the Ohio State University, research in liquid hydrogen pumps, Design of bistable controls; VP Engineering, Emerson Electric Subsidiary.

Matt Sobieski External Advisory Board Member

Matt Sobieski is an Engagement Manager at McKinsey & Company, based in Atlanta, Georgia where he lives with his wife, Katie, and son Peter. Matt graduated cum laude from the University of Florida in 2009 with a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. After joining Lockheed Martin, Matt held various manufacturing roles in aerospace before starting his MBA.…

Ericka Solano Research Administrator III
Jinah Song Research Administrator II
352-294-1568.
Dr. Youngsup Song Assistant Professor

Youngsup Song is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Florida. He obtained his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from MIT, where he investigated multiphase heat transfer. Following his graduate work, he trained as a postdoctoral researcher at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory before joining the University of Florida.…

Linda Sorrels Fiscal Assistant  II
(352) 392-7290

Awards

  • 2018 Years of Service at UF – 5
Jack Sparks External Advisory Board Member

A UF Graduate: BME 65, MSE 67, Ph.D. 70 (Machine Design, Thermodynamics and Metallurgy) Professional Engineer in FL., AL., and MS., Registered Mechanical and General Contractor FL. In 1972, 15 months after graduation, Dr. Sparks with two investors formed Systems Engineering Research Facilities, dba as SERF as a Research Firm and has been President and Principal Engineer ever since.…

Dr. Douglas E. Spearot Newton C. Ebaugh Professor and Graduate Coordinator
(352) 392-6747

Professor Spearot received his Ph.D. in 2005 from the Georgia Institute of Technology. His research broadly includes the use of atomistic and mesoscale simulation techniques to study the mechanical and thermodynamic properties of materials, with particular focus on the behavior of interfaces. He was awarded the NSF CAREER Award in 2010 and was named 2020 Teacher of the Year in the Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering.…

D. Scott Stewart Adjunct Research Professor
(217) 333-7947
Donna Stilwell Associate Director,College and EBS-HR – Operations
352-294-7977
Dr. Ghatu Subhash Newton C. Ebaugh Professor
+ 1 352-727-8662

Professor Ghatu Subhash obtained his PhD from University of California San Diego in 1991 and conducted his post-doctoral research at California Institute of Technology. His research focusses on multiaxial behavior of advanced ceramics, metals, composites, gels and biological materials. He has developed novel experimental methods which have been patented and widely used. He has co-authored 205 peer reviewed journal articles (8400 citations in Google Scholar, h-index=48), 85 conference proceedings, 2-books, and 6 patents.…

John P. Sullivan External Advisory Board Member and Chair

John Sullivan began his aerospace career 37 years ago, graduating from the University of Florida with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. His first role was at Pratt and Whitney Aircraft in analytical aerodynamics for jet engine compression and fan systems. In the next 17 years he expanded his aerodynamics and heat transfer expertise to include turbine systems, exhaust systems, inlets, and acoustics.…

Christi Swiers Marketing and Communications Assistant
Dr. Xin Tang Assistant Professor
(352) 294-1194

Professor Xin Tang received his Post-doctoral training from Harvard University and Ph.D. from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His research interests include cell and molecular mechanics in cancer development and metastasis, cardiovascular system, and neurons; unconventional mechano-electrophysiology; quantitative in vivo/vitro functional bio-imaging; bio-nanotechnology; and development of new biophysical tools to probe biological function/structure. His research is supported by NIH, NSF, AFOSR/DoD, UF Health Cancer Center, UF Opportunity Funds, and etc.…

Charles “Chuck” E. Taylor Professor, (Department Time: February 16, 1981 – December 1, 1993)
Dr. Curtis R. Taylor MAE Affiliate Faculty / Associate Dean for Undergraduate Student Affairs and Associate Professor in Engineering Education
(352) 392-4440

Dr. Curtis R. Taylor, Ph.D. directs the nanomechanics research lab at UF. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in solid mechanics. Nanomechanics deals with the study and application of fundamental mechanical properties of physical systems at the nanoscale, like elastic, thermal, and kinetic. The application of this research seeks to develop new technologies that utilize the unique properties of nano- and bio-materials.…

Van Thai HR Generalist I
(352) 294-7968

Responsibilities
Human Resources for Chemical Engineering, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Siddharth S. Thakur Courtesy & Adjunct Associate Professor
(352) 846-3555

Professor Thakur received his Ph.D. in 1993 from University of Florida. His research interests include computational fluid dynamics, heat transfer, and combustion modeling.
Education
Ph.D., 1993, University of Florida,
Research Interests
Computational fluid dynamics, heat transfer, combustion modelling.

Dr. William G. Tiederman, Jr Professor Emeritus (Department Time: 1993 – 2004)
(352) 392-0828

EducationPh.D., 1965, Stanford UniversityResearch InterestsViscous fluid mechanics, turbulent wall flows.

Karlin Toner External Advisory Board Member

Dr. Karlin Toner is the Senior Advisor for Data Policy Integration at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Office of Aviation Policy and Plans. She champions digital transformation by developing people, processes and products at the enterprise level. From 2014 to 2021, Dr. Toner served as the Director, Global Strategy where she provided direction on FAA’s engagement with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to ensure a unified U.S.…

Eliseo Torres End User Computing Specialist II
352-846-1628
Dr. James A. Trainham Professor and Associate Chair for Industry Relations
(352) 392-0826

Professor Trainham’s research interests are in renewable energy.  Before joining UF, Trainham spent most of his professional career in industry: four years as chief technology officer JDC Phosphate, four years as vice president,      distinguished fellow and director of the Research Triangle Solar Fuels Institute at RTI International, senior vice    president of Sundrop Fuels (a solar fuel company), served as global vice president of Science and Technology at PPG Industries, and had a 25-year career at the DuPont Company.…

Dr. Roger Tran-Son-Tay Professor Emeritus (Department Time: 1993 – 2022)
(352) 392-6229

Education
Ph.D., 1983, Washington University
Professional Memberships and Fellowships
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Member
Biomedical Engineering Society, Member
Society of Biorheology, Member
Research Interests
Biomedical engineering, rheology, fluid mechanics.

Dr. Matthew J. Traum Instructional Associate Professor
(352) 294-6897

Dr. Matthew J. Traum is an experienced educator, administrator, fund raiser, and researcher serving the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Florida as an instructional faculty member. Traum serves as Principle Investigator of UF’s GatorKits Laboratory focused on pedagogical research and best practices for hands-on kit-centered STEM instruction. A serial entrepreneur and inventor in the Ed Tech, Energy Tech, and Bio Tech industries, Dr.…

Trase Travers External Advisory Board Member

Mr. Travers is a recognized leader and entrepreneur having successfully created significant value for investors via business acquisition, integration, and organic growth. Most recently, Mr. Travers oversaw the integration and growth of a private equity-backed platform http://www.BattleInvestmentGroup.com of companies focused on full lifecycle support services to the aerospace and defense market. ARCTOS, LLC http://www.ARCTOS-US.com is the result of the acquisition and integration of six companies, the majority of which were sourced and captured by Mr.…

Ellen Truchon Academic Advisor III (Undergraduate)
352-273-0304
Dr. Lawrence S. Ukeiley Professor and Associate Chair of Academic Programs
(352) 392-9459

Lawrence Ukeiley is currently a Professor in the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department at the University of Florida. His primary research interests are in experimental fluid dynamics and turbulence as related to flow control, aeroacoustics, fluid structure interactions and the development of low order models. He received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Alfred University in 1989 and his MS and PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Clarkson University in 1992 and 1996 respectively.…

Hans Von Ohain
Mitchell B. Waldman External Advisory Board Member

Mitchell “Mitch” Waldman is the Principal of MBarnet Advisors, LLC, where he provides strategic and advisory services to clients in the aerospace and defense sector. He retired in the fall of 2021 from Huntington Ingalls Industries, where he served for over a decade as executive vice president of government and customer relations and was a member of the corporation’s management team.…

Dr. Yu Wang Assistant Professor
352-846-3599

Yu Wang is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Florida (UF) and the Group Lead of Autonomous and Connected Vehicles of the UF Transportation Institute. He was a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Duke University. He received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering and M.S.…

Dr. Peter Wass Research Scientist
(352) 392-6746

Professional Memberships and Fellowships
American Physical Society, Member

Carol Weber External Advisory Board Member

I love to tackle problems no one else wants to touch. I enjoy digging into the complexities of a challenge to understand it, bringing a team together to address it, and delivering a groundbreaking solution to resolve it. I am honored to have been able to work on several projects throughout my career that each delivered a first-of-its-kind product, and in those situations, it’s the collaboration with talented teams, exceptionally hard work, and changing the landscape of an industry that gets me excited about going to work each day.…

Stephanie Wells Student Assistant
Dr. Gloria J. Wiens Associate Professor Emeritus (Department Time: 1994 – 2023)
(352) 392-0806

Professor Wiens is currently conducting research in the area of human-robot collaboration for smart factory, integrating AI with robot control in providing augmented intelligence of robots interacting with humans, other robots and machines. She has also been conducting research in the areas of intelligent and autonomous robotic systems, innovative mechanisms and controls for automation, space robotics/small satellites, manufacturing and micro-electro-mechanical systems.…

Dr. Lakiesha N. Williams MAE Affiliate Faculty / Professor & Associate Chair for Graduate Studies in Biomedical Engineering
(352) 273-8125

Characterizing the structure and property relationships of biological tissues for implementation into physics-based constitutive models. Studying injury mechanics and damage mechanisms associated with high impact loads. Specific expertise includes biomechanics, tissue and bone mechanics, bio-inspired materials research, orthopedics research and material characterization.
Education
B.S., Biological Engineering, Louisiana State University, 2001
Ph.D., Biomedical Engineering, Mississippi State University, 2006
Honors and Awards

  • Research Excellence Award, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, 2022
  • Fellow, American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE), 2020
  • National Role Model Faculty Researcher Award, Minority Access Inc., 2017
  • Mississippi Business Journal Top in Technology, 2017
  • Mississippi State Institutions of Higher Learning–Diversity Educator of the Year Nominee, 2015
  • Mississippi’s Top 21 Most Wanted in Technology, 2014

Selected Publications
Chen, J., Bryn, B.…

Andrew Willis Adjunct Assistant Professor

Education:

  • Ph.D., Scientia Machina (Electrical Engineering), Brown University, 2004
  • M.S., Applied Math, Brown University, 2003
  • M.S., Electrical Sciences, Brown University, 2001
  • B.S., Electrical Engineering cum laude, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 1995
  • B.S., Computer Science cum laude, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 1994

Research:

  • Computer Vision
  • Pattern Recognition
  • Image Processing
  • Computational Geometry in Multiple (>2) Dimensions

Selected Publications:

  1. Willis, A., Computational Analysis of Archaeological Ceramic Vessels and their Fragments, in Digital Imaging for Cultural Heritage Preservation: Analysis, Restoration, and Reconstruction of Ancient Artworks, CRC-Press, pp.